Late in the year 2001, Karam began playing micro-stakes home games and small local tournaments.

Shortly after qualifying for this event, he asked for and received a six-month sabbatical from his job at Transit Glass & Aluminum.

[3] During this same sabbatical, Karam qualified for the 2006 European Poker Tour (EPT) Grand Final in Monte Carlo through another online "satellite" tournament.

He then managed to place in the top 6 at the next three major tournaments he entered; The 2006 North American Poker Championship, The 2007 Aussie Millions, and The 2007 EPT Grand Final.

[5] During the 38th Annual World Series of Poker, Karam earned over $9,000 (USD) for his 33rd-place finish in the World Championship Heads-Up No Limit Hold'em event,[6] during which he defeated 2005 NBC National Heads-Up champion Ted Forrest.